Posted on 09/29/2006 10:24:29 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Retired Air Force Col. I B Jack Donalson was a highly decorated fighter ace in World War II and operations officer of a squadron that once shot down 23 German aircraft in 30 minutes while defending an English airfield.
The Kyle native died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at age 91, said his wife, Mauree Donalson.
He used the initials in his name without periods because he didn't learn what they stood for until about 15 years ago.
"He was raised just using the initials. He was shocked to find out it was Israel Bartholomew," said his oldest son, John Donalson of Ball Ground, Ga.
Donalson was born July 6, 1915. After attending schools in Laredo, Beaumont, Florida and Oklahoma, he worked in the oilfields of northeastern Oklahoma. He attended Tulsa University on an athletic scholarship beginning in 1937, playing football, baseball, basketball and swimming.
He learned to fly through the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1940. Donalson joined the Army Air Corps in January 1941 and was commissioned Aug. 15, 1941, at Kelly Field in San Antonio. He married his college sweetheart, Mauree Horne, the following day in Tulsa, Okla.
"He was flying P-40s at Clark Field in the Philippines with the 21st Pursuit Squadron with Lt. Ed Dyess when World War II broke out and shot down three Japanese planes on his first day in combat," his wife said.
Robert Powell of Atlanta, an air combat historian, said that after most American planes in the Philippines had been disabled, Donalson fought with the infantry defending Bataan. He led 10 men behind Japanese lines and wiped out a force of Japanese soldiers.
He flew the last American fighter plane out of the Philippines in April 1942 before the islands fell to the Japanese.
Donalson served in Australia with the 49th Pursuit Squadron, shooting down two more planes, for a total of five and earning the distinction of fighter ace.
Transferring to the 8th Air Force in England, he became operations officer of the 487th Fighter Squadron, based in Bodney, England.
The unit flew P-47 Thunderbolts at first, but in April 1944 switched to P-51 Mustangs, which had nearly twice the flying range, Powell said. The Germans referred to the 487th as "those blue-nosed bastards from Bodney" because the spinners on their aircraft noses were painted blue, Powell said.
Donalson's postwar duties included tours in Germany and at numerous other bases around the United States, his wife said. He served in Vietnam in 1966-67 sandwiched between two three-year tours at the North American Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs. Colo.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross and Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters.
Retiring in 1968, Donalson was assistant to a vice president of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma until 1980, when he retired again and moved to San Antonio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jparker@express-news.net
Rest in Peace, Col.
Fair winds and following seas, warrior.
These were the finest generation of heros and we need/have more today. they're just not getting the acknowledgement!
Hand Salute FlyBoy.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds
- and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence.
Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Prez Reagan recited this poem at the Commemorative Ceremony for the Challenger Crew!
Fly On Col Donaldson
RIP flyboy! Mission accomplished.
Hail..the victorious dead!
My sincere sympathy to the family for a great loss.
This man responded to liberty's calling and gave beyond his due.
To his family and loved ones, may you know of my prayers to the Almighty offering my thanksgiving for the talent and skill in battle He bestowed upon this warrior. The sacrifice that he and his wife & family gave to cause of freedom are well respected and appreciated.
Col. Donalson is one of the many reasons that the STARS and STRIPES are still flying. God Bless Him and all of his family.
That seems to me to be what makes us better than 'them'.
Hand salute, colonel, from this old Clark AB troop.
MilHist ping
"Retired Air Force Col. I B Jack Donalson was a highly decorated fighter ace in World War II and operations officer of a squadron that once shot down 23 German aircraft in 30 minutes while defending an English airfield."
Written By John Gillespe Magee, a 19 year old pilot who died fighting witht he British (he died at 19). What inspiration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.